Themes: Architectural, Community development
Present owner: Mrs. Florence Abbot (1959)
Original owner: Abbot, Georg R. & Florence I.

Historical significance: "Moved here from Lawrence Railroad Depot site about 1860" This statement has been attached with the home, but no substantiation provided. The Andover - Wilmington Railroad was established in 1838 and operated for 10 years. It was purchased by the Boston & Main Railroad in 1848 and the line was relocated to the present day route to accommodate the new City of Lawrence. We know from the deeds that this property held buildings in 1838 when Simon Wardwell sold the 7 4/10 rod to to Dr. Nathaniel Swift for $200 on May 23, 1839. The building may have been barns. Swift did not reside here and later sold to Jacob Chickering, a House-wright, on Jan. 3, 1849. Chickering purchased two other adjoining lots from Israel Berry and Nathaniel Swift in 1848. Chickering most likely built the dwelling house.

Chickering sold the property to George Smith on May 26, 1849 for $1700. The Andover Valuation Schedule of 1850 lists George Smith. House & barn $600, 8 acre house lot $400, 5 acre pasture $150 = $1150. His Farm Stock was $80. George Smith was b. 1817 in Scotland, married to Jane Leslie b. 1817 and they had one daughter Margaret Edgar Smith b. Jan. 1844 in Scotland. George, a farmer, may have moved a building to the property. The front entrance is unusual and not the same style as the main house. Its size and design with hip roof, suggests a small gate keepers house, once used at road crossings by the gate tenders, as shelter. This may be the structre alluded to in the files. George Smith died Aug. 19, 1875. The property was inherited by their daughter Margaret.

Margaret E. Smith had married Nathan Foster Abbott b. Jan. 20, 1828 in Boston, MA son of Daniel G. & Sarah Abbott. Margaret & Nathan had eight children. Jennie S. b. Nov. 1867, Sarah G. b. Sept. 1870, Florence Isabella b. Dec. 1871, Margaret Leslie b. Jan. 1874, Alice b. Nov. 22, 186, Susan E. b. Mar. 5, 1879, Daniel Garfield b. May 24, 1881 and George Richard b. May 1885.

Margaret must have deeded the property to her husband Nathan F. as he became "insolvent" in 1879 and the property was assigned to Caleb Saunders to sell at public auction. Margaret, his wife was the high bidder of $25. on May.19, 1879 and the deed was assigned to her with out interference from her husband. The family continued to live in the house on Upland road. Her mother Jane L. Smith lived out her years with her daughter. Margaret deeded two land parcels to Richard M. Abbott in 1886 and then returned to her in Dec. 1888. Her son Daniel G. worked the farm for some years. Daughters Jennie and Florence Abbot were teachers in Andover. Jennie taught 1st grade at South Center School [John Dove School in 1895] 1890- 1911 and Florence at Ballardvale School [Bradlee School] (1892-1911 then replaced her sister teaching 2nd grade at John Dove from 1911-1935.

1920 Valuation - Mrs. Margaret E. Abbott - Upland Rd. - House $500, Barn & shed $1000, 9 1/2 acres homeland $1200, 10 1/10 a. Barnard and Berry $1500, 6 3/8 a. Howarth $5000 = $9200 assessment and land 25.9 acres.

Margaret Abbott died on Feb. 24, 1924 and the estate went to George, wife Florence M., Florence I, and Alice Abbott. After George died the property went to sister Florence I. Abbott. Florence retired from teaching in 1935. In the 1950s several parcels of land were sold off as house lots along Summer St. Chestnut and Upland Rd. The last parcel sold to Sam DeSalvo to develop Ivanhoe Lane in 1965.

Florence Abbott died on Dec. 14, 1955. Alice had moved to Pittsburgh, PA and died in July 29, 1957. The property then went to Dorothy L. Paterson & Richard W. Abbott both heirs who would sell the home in Dec. 1982 ending the Smith-Abbott family connection of 133 years.